MotoGP: James Toseland to make Yamaha MotoGP debut in Malaysia

James Toseland will delay his long-awaited Yamaha MotoGP debut until a three-day test session at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia in mid-November.

And MCN has also learned that Toseland and new team-mate Colin Edwards will definitely be running on Michelin tyres in the 2008 world championship.

It was anticipated the British rider, who currently leads the World Superbike championship, would get his first chance on the Tech 3 YZR-M1 machine in a test immediately after the final round in Valencia.

But MCN understands Tech 3 and James Toseland have agreed to miss the one-and-a-half day Valencia test, instead preferring to ride for the first time in the Far East in the Sepang test scheduled to start on Monday, November 15, 2007.

Sources have said it was best for James Toseland to make his debut in a less pressurised environment than Valencia, where the world’s media would be present to see a host of riders make their first appearance on new machinery.

John Hopkins will ride for Kawasaki, Loris Capirossi for Suzuki and Marco Melandri for Ducati for the first time in Valencia.

And Tech 3 team bosses are understood not to want to put James Toseland under such severe scrutiny on his first outing.

After the Sepang test, current Hannspree Ten Kate Honda rider James Toseland will then complete a further three-day session at the Jerez circuit in Spain at the end of November before the seven-week winter testing ban kicks in.

Sources have also said Tech 3 will definitely run on Michelin tyres next season, ending a two-year relationship with Dunlop.

Fiat Yamaha boss Davide Brivio confirmed last weekend at the Estoril MotoGP in Portugal that Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo will definitely be using Michelin rubber next year.

That followed speculation of a switch to Bridgestone.

With the factory team staying on Michelin, Tech will also use the French brand in a deal that could be confirmed at this weekend’s Japanese MotoGP in the Twin Ring Motegi.